You Don’t Need a New Brain — You Need a Better World

“You Don’t Need a New Brain — You Need a Better World”

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

I saw an ad on Facebook this morning for a brain treatment clinic in Vancouver — one that uses magnetic pulses to “retrain” your brain. People were commenting things like:

• “How can I afford this?”
• “I feel broken. I need a new brain.”

And my heart just broke. Because you don’t need a new brain. You need:

• A safe home
• Nutritious food
• Sunshine on your skin
• A garden to dig in
• Someone who really listens
• Time to rest and just be

This new wave of “neurotech” might sound futuristic, but let’s be honest: it’s another expensive band-aid. It tells you the problem is inside you — that you’re defective and in need of rewiring. But maybe the problem is that you’re overwhelmed by a system that doesn’t care if you eat or sleep or feel safe.

We’re not robots. We’re not broken machines. We’re human beings — affected deeply by love, grief, injustice, beauty, and hope. And the real medicine we need isn’t a magnetic pulse... it’s connection, dignity, and care.

“Instead of zapping your brain, try walking by the water. Get your hands in some soil. Plant a seed. Let the sun touch your face. You’re not broken — you’re hurting.”

I’m not judging anyone for seeking help. We’ve all been there. Desperate. Tired. Worn thin. But I want to remind you — especially if you’re struggling right now — that you are not your symptoms. You are not a diagnosis. You are not a dollar sign.

If no one has told you today: You deserve a life with beauty, rest, safety, and joy — not just “treatments” you can’t afford.

We need to talk about what real healing looks like. We need to support each other in reclaiming our worth — not selling it off for another tech fix.

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With love and courage,
Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

#mentalhealth #poverty #neurotech #housingfirst #natureheals #youarenotbroken #vancouver #zipolita